Cosley Zoo

Cosley Zoo Cosley Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and features native wildlife.
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Cosley Zoo gives visitors up-close interactions with nature right in the heart of the suburbs. Nestled on 5 acres, Cosley Zoo is home to farm animals and native Illinois wildlife. Visitors will discover exhibits that immerse them in natural habitats for white-tailed deer, red fox, Blanding’s turtles, a bobcat, a coyote, and more. Cosley Zoo is also a center for animal education and conservation, o

ffering programs that teach young and old how to care for the world around them and give back to the communities in which they live, work, and play. You can reserve tickets in advance at https://cosleyzoo.org/plan-your-visit/ or purchase them at the admission booth.

Today we are celebrating Zachary who recently turned 18 years old! Zachary came to us from Tails in Dekalb in 2011 and h...
07/01/2025

Today we are celebrating Zachary who recently turned 18 years old! Zachary came to us from Tails in Dekalb in 2011 and has lived with us ever since. Like many animals from shelters, we don’t know his exact birthday, but he still deserves to be celebrated. Zachary is a fan favorite here at Cosley and is known best for his love of water. He can often be seen roaming the halls of the Douglas Depot or napping in the kitchen window. Which Zachary are you today?

Our fall animal care internship application is now open! Join our animal care team providing daily care for our animals ...
07/01/2025

Our fall animal care internship application is now open! Join our animal care team providing daily care for our animals throughout the zoo. Application deadline is July 15. http://bit.ly/3TkdKqt

Photo caption: interns assisting the animal care team in practicing a future behind the scenes experience with our calves. Coming soon!

Today we celebrate a milestone birthday. Coal the Black Rat snake turns 10 years old! Hatched at North Carolina Aquarium...
06/30/2025

Today we celebrate a milestone birthday. Coal the Black Rat snake turns 10 years old! Hatched at North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on June 30, 2015; Coal came to Cosley Zoo as a 3-year-old juvenile. He has grown into an impressive 7-foot-long snake and periodically joins staff in education programs and encounters for the public.
Coal’s curious nature makes him a very engaging animal ambassador. He fascinates guests with his strong and fluid movements as he explores his surroundings. His black tongue reaching out for new scents.
Snakes are important pest controllers in the environment. They prefer to stay hidden and keep to themselves. Giving snakes space allows them to do their jobs safely.

06/25/2025

Fill your glass with a little bit of wild at Uncorked, a wine tasting event after-hours at the zoo on Thursday, July 10! 🍷 The event features:
▪ Live entertainment
▪ Appetizers
▪ Raffle prizes
▪ Mingling with the animals and of course, wine sampling! 🍷

NEW this year we will have some non alcoholic wine options. The first 450 guests will receive an exclusive commemorative wine glass. Get your tickets NOW: https://bit.ly/4jog0YP

Welcome to another addition of Teeth out Tuesday featuring Franklin the Llama. Did you know that llamas have over 30 tee...
06/24/2025

Welcome to another addition of Teeth out Tuesday featuring Franklin the Llama. Did you know that llamas have over 30 teeth! As herbivores, most of their teeth are used for grinding and breaking down vegetation. However, adult llamas also feature “fighting teeth”. These are modified canine and incisor teeth that llamas can use for protection.

Today, Canada Lynx, Poppy and Sage would like to wish their father and ALL fathers a very Happy Father’s Day with specia...
06/15/2025

Today, Canada Lynx, Poppy and Sage would like to wish their father and ALL fathers a very Happy Father’s Day with special themed enrichment!
Poppy and Sage were born at Montgomery Zoo in 2018, where their father still resides. Canada Lynx are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) created by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SSPs are a collaborative effort between zoos and aquariums to best ensure long-term genetic diversity of species within their care. The program is facilitated collectively by animal care professionals, as well as a team of scientists. Participating SSPs allows for the ongoing conservation of species, as well as an opportunity to bring education to the communities that zoos and aquariums serve. Poppy and Sage made their way to Cosley Zoo in 2022. They fulfill an important educational role, helping our staff and volunteers teach about the challenges Canada Lynx face in the wild as a threatened species.

CONGRATULATIONS to Samantha P. of Wheaton, who broke the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K course record. She is now the...
06/11/2025

CONGRATULATIONS to Samantha P. of Wheaton, who broke the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K course record. She is now the new record holder with a time of 17:42!

Happy Gotcha Day to our, now big, piglets Tater and Tot! When these two arrived at Cosley Zoo in 2023 they each weighed ...
06/10/2025

Happy Gotcha Day to our, now big, piglets Tater and Tot! When these two arrived at Cosley Zoo in 2023 they each weighed roughly 15lbs. Today they weigh in at roughly 260lbs each!
Guests can tell Tater and Tot apart by checking out their snouts! Tater’s nose is completely black, while Tot has a pink dot on his nose. A rhyme that makes it easy to remember is “Tot has the dot”!
Tater and Tot share their habitat with two older pigs: Harley and Chopper.
Make sure to stop by and say hello to our four lovely pigs and put your observation skills to the test!

Our annual Run for the Animals 5K/10K and Kids ½ Mile was another successful event! 1,600 runners participated. Thank yo...
06/10/2025

Our annual Run for the Animals 5K/10K and Kids ½ Mile was another successful event! 1,600 runners participated. Thank you to all the attendees and our volunteers. We would like to thank our sponsors Midwest Express Clinic, MKFM Law, Borter Heating and Air Conditioning, Chesterbrook Academy, Dick Pond Athletics- Carol Stream, Parks Plus Fitness, Pete’s Market, Culligan of Wheaton and Culvers of Wheaton.

Here are some highlights of the event.

Cosley Zoo’s mission is “to create connections between people and animals that will inspire lifelong conservation of the...
06/08/2025

Cosley Zoo’s mission is “to create connections between people and animals that will inspire lifelong conservation of the natural world.” We are very grateful to our staff, volunteers, and guests that help build the Cosley Zoo community and care for our diverse animal collection.

06/06/2025

Cosley Zoo fan favorite, Franklin the Llama celebrates his 9th birthday today!
Franklin’s large brown fluffy body and big personality make him quite the showstopper. He has been bringing awe to our guests since his arrival to the zoo in January 2017 from Namaste Llamas.
Llamas are thought to have been domesticated from guanaco in the Andes Mountains thousands of years ago. Their long history of living alongside humans means they’ve played many important roles mainly their thick fur (known as wool) being used to weave into a variety of clothing. Today they are raised for companion animals, shows, wool, and their f***s used as fertilizer. They also can serve as livestock guardians, protecting sheep, goats, and other animals from predators. Franklin is a phenomenal guardian for his llama companion, 2-year-old, Hero.

Shirt alert!! We are selling our vintage Cosley Run shirts from years past for only $5 at packet pick up today until 7P ...
06/05/2025

Shirt alert!! We are selling our vintage Cosley Run shirts from years past for only $5 at packet pick up today until 7P at the Community Center lower level and on Saturday from 10A-3P at Memorial Park!

Address

1356 N Gary Avenue
Wheaton, IL
60187

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+16306655534

Website

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